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Webber, Traylor, Taylor, Bullock cited in indictment
Associated Press
DETROIT -- A former Michigan basketball booster was indicted
on charges of giving ex-Wolverines star Chris Webber and other
players more than $600,000 while they were in high school and
college.
Ed Martin, a retired Ford Motor Co. electrician, made loans to the
players to help conceal profits from gambling operations at
Detroit-area auto plants, according to the federal indictment
released Thursday.
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins said the payments were made from
1988-99 "to the basketball players and their families."
None of the players or their family members were involved in the
criminal investigation, Collins said. Prosecutors also said there was
no evidence of point-shaving or other gambling on college sports.
FBI Special Agent John Bell said the investigation continued into
whether the players reported the income.
Martin and his wife were arrested Thursday on charges of running
an illegal gambling business, conspiracy and money laundering.
They pleaded innocent and were released on $10,000 bond.
The charges, handed up by a grand jury on Wednesday, resulted
from an investigation by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service.
According to the indictment, Webber received about $280,000
from 1988-93, a period extending from his freshman year at
Detroit Country Day high school through his sophomore season at
Michigan. The leader of Michigan's "Fab Five" teams, he now stars
with the Sacramento Kings.
Webber's agent, Fallasha Erwin, said he knew nothing about
payments to his client as detailed in the indictment.
"He didn't live the kind of lifestyle that would coincide with
somebody with that kind of money," Erwin said. "It seems a little
far-fetched. I don't know where they came up with that figure, but
that's what our judicial system is for."
Webber's mother, Doris Webber, declined comment. Chris Webber
was in Sacramento preparing for a game Thursday night and
unavailable for comment.
According to the indictment, Robert Traylor received $160,000
beginning while he was in high school in 1994 and continuing into
the fall of 1998 at Michigan. Traylor now plays with the Charlotte
Hornets.
Maurice Taylor received $105,000, but didn't get any money from
Martin until 1996, his sophomore year at Michigan, the indictment
said. Taylor now plays for the Houston Rockets.
The indictment also said Louis Bullock, who played at Michigan
from 1995-99, received $71,000.
Messages left Thursday with the agents of Traylor and Taylor were
not immediately returned.
Marvin Krislov, the university's vice president and general counsel,
said in a statement that the school received a copy of the
indictment Thursday and continues to cooperate with federal
investigators, the NCAA and the Big Ten.
Michigan has banned Martin from its programs since March 1997.
The NCAA does not comment on specific allegations against
schools, NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said.
Martin has refused to cooperate, and the players named in the
indictment either told university investigators they did not take
loans from Martin, or they refused to talk.
Each of the players named in the indictment unsealed Thursday has
testified about his activities with Martin before a federal grand jury.
Former Michigan coach Steve Fisher, now San Diego State's head
coach, also testified, along with two former assistants. >>
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<<
Webber, Traylor, Taylor, Bullock cited in indictment
Associated Press
DETROIT -- A former Michigan basketball booster was indicted
on charges of giving ex-Wolverines star Chris Webber and other
players more than $600,000 while they were in high school and
college.
Ed Martin, a retired Ford Motor Co. electrician, made loans to the
players to help conceal profits from gambling operations at
Detroit-area auto plants, according to the federal indictment
released Thursday.
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins said the payments were made from
1988-99 "to the basketball players and their families."
None of the players or their family members were involved in the
criminal investigation, Collins said. Prosecutors also said there was
no evidence of point-shaving or other gambling on college sports.
FBI Special Agent John Bell said the investigation continued into
whether the players reported the income.
Martin and his wife were arrested Thursday on charges of running
an illegal gambling business, conspiracy and money laundering.
They pleaded innocent and were released on $10,000 bond.
The charges, handed up by a grand jury on Wednesday, resulted
from an investigation by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service.
According to the indictment, Webber received about $280,000
from 1988-93, a period extending from his freshman year at
Detroit Country Day high school through his sophomore season at
Michigan. The leader of Michigan's "Fab Five" teams, he now stars
with the Sacramento Kings.
Webber's agent, Fallasha Erwin, said he knew nothing about
payments to his client as detailed in the indictment.
"He didn't live the kind of lifestyle that would coincide with
somebody with that kind of money," Erwin said. "It seems a little
far-fetched. I don't know where they came up with that figure, but
that's what our judicial system is for."
Webber's mother, Doris Webber, declined comment. Chris Webber
was in Sacramento preparing for a game Thursday night and
unavailable for comment.
According to the indictment, Robert Traylor received $160,000
beginning while he was in high school in 1994 and continuing into
the fall of 1998 at Michigan. Traylor now plays with the Charlotte
Hornets.
Maurice Taylor received $105,000, but didn't get any money from
Martin until 1996, his sophomore year at Michigan, the indictment
said. Taylor now plays for the Houston Rockets.
The indictment also said Louis Bullock, who played at Michigan
from 1995-99, received $71,000.
Messages left Thursday with the agents of Traylor and Taylor were
not immediately returned.
Marvin Krislov, the university's vice president and general counsel,
said in a statement that the school received a copy of the
indictment Thursday and continues to cooperate with federal
investigators, the NCAA and the Big Ten.
Michigan has banned Martin from its programs since March 1997.
The NCAA does not comment on specific allegations against
schools, NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said.
Martin has refused to cooperate, and the players named in the
indictment either told university investigators they did not take
loans from Martin, or they refused to talk.
Each of the players named in the indictment unsealed Thursday has
testified about his activities with Martin before a federal grand jury.
Former Michigan coach Steve Fisher, now San Diego State's head
coach, also testified, along with two former assistants. >>
